Consultant General Anaesthetist

NHS; Great Yarmouth; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A modern district general hospital in Great Yarmouth is seeking a Consultant General Anaesthetist to provide flexible anaesthetic services across various surgical specialties. This role will allow opportunities for developing specific interests, with a focus on teaching and clinical governance. Candidates should possess FRCA or equivalent qualifications and have a commitment to professional development. The position offers a supportive environment with continual professional development opportunities.

Qualifications

• Clinical training and experience equivalent to UK CCT in Anaesthesia.
• Ability to provide consultant cover to Emergency anaesthesia including on call.
• Knowledge of RCoA Training Curriculum and ability for teaching.

Responsibilities

• Provide a flexible anaesthetic service to a variety of surgical specialties.
• Participate in Clinical governance within the department and Trust.
• Participate in departmental Quality Improvement programmes.

Skills

Organising and prioritising work effectively

Motivation and ability to plan and develop the service

Energy and enthusiasm; ability to work under pressure

Willingness to participate in clinical governance

Clear communication with colleagues and staff

Teamwork

Education

FRCA or equivalent

MBBS or Basic Medical Degree

Full GMC registration

On the UK (GMC) Specialist Register or being within 6 months of completion of UK Anaesthetic training

Job description

Consultant General Anaesthetist

The closing date is 05 January 2026.

Applications are invited for a Consultant General Anaesthetist at the James Paget University Hospital. This modern District General Hospital has approx. 500 beds and is situated in a coastal holiday area of East Anglia. It serves a population of 250,000 that increases considerably in the summer months.

There are 10 theatres including a Day Care Unit with 3 theatres. There is a Delivery Suite with an adjacent maternity theatre and recovery area. Intensive care Unit has 12 ITU/HDU beds. The new Elective Orthopaedic Hub is being built on the premises, which will house 2 Operating Theatres, 4 Recovery bays and 8 day-care pods. All inpatient and day case orthopaedic surgery will move here. The theatres accommodate a wide choice of theatre lists including all the usual district general hospital activity. There is a plan to start robotic surgery; business case for which is approved and the preparations are in progress. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to provide a flexible anaesthetic service to a variety of surgical specialties. There will be an opportunity to develop a particular interest in a sub‑speciality e.g. regional anaesthesia, peri‑operative medicine, pain medicine. The Consultant on‑call for general anaesthesia is a 1/10 to 1/12 rota depending on overall numbers. There is a separate ICU consultant rota and a 3 tier junior rota.

Main duties of the job

• Share with consultant colleagues the general Anaesthetic work load including participation in general anaesthetic on call including maternity cover on call.
• Provide a flexible anaesthetic service to a variety of a surgical specialties.
• Provide with the other Consultants a system of mutual out‑of‑hours cover and cover for annual, study and professional leave.
• Give a consultation and advisory service to medical colleagues in other specialties in the Trust.
• Liaise with medical staff in other specialties and participate in their regular clinical meetings and other post‑graduate activities of the hospital.
• Take part in the Royal College of Anaesthetists continuing medical education programme. The Trust will provide study leave expenses inline with national terms and conditions of service.
• Play a full part in the teaching and Quality improvement activities of the department.
• Develop and promote an interest in research in anaesthesia.
• Participate in the rolling process of clinical governance.
• Contribute to development of the services.

(See Job Description for full duties).

About us

We have anaesthetic trainees from the East of England deanery and are a partner University Hospital for medical students from The University of East Anglia. The James Paget University Hospital is a research active trust. Participation in education & research is actively encouraged and supported.

The hospital is situated in Gorleston, 200 metres from the beach and picturesque countryside, on the Norfolk/Suffolk border close to the towns of Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft and within commuting distance from several small villages with affordable housing and local amenities. Residents enjoy a good quality of life with easy access to the Norfolk Broads and unspoilt coastline with opportunities for wildlife, walking, cycling and sailing. The historic city of Norwich is only 20 miles with excellent schools, rail links to London and an international airport, for easy access to the Continent and beyond.

Our Trust is also on the path towards developing a new hospital over the coming years, working closely with the Department of Health and Care to deliver a modern, innovative health and care campus on our current site as part of the national New Hospital Programme.

The post holder will be responsible to the Clinical Lead, Anaesthesia.

Job responsibilities

• Provide a flexible anaesthetic service to a variety of surgical specialties e.g. General surgery, colo‑rectal surgery, orthopaedic, trauma, gynae, urology, ENT, dental, emergency surgery. Regular lists in a variety of surgical specialties will be accommodated in the job plan with an opportunity to develop a special area of interest. There may be an opportunity to participate in daytime Obstetric sessions.
• Be supported for their Continual Professional Development, within the Trust as well as externally by providing study leave and funding.
• Be expected to actively participate in the Clinical governance within the department and the Trust.
• Participate in the departmental Quality Improvement programmes under the direction of the Clinical Lead.
• Be expected to fulfil criteria for Clinical supervision and encouraged for Educational supervision to participate in training and teaching of post‑graduate and undergraduate trainees.
• Be encouraged to show leadership qualities to develop services

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

• FRCA or equivalent
• MBBS or Basic Medical Degree
• On the UK (GMC) Specialist Register or being within 6 months of completion of UK Anaesthetic training or being on or eligible for the UK (GMC) Specialist Register at the date of interview.
• Full GMC registration

Experience and Knowledge

• Clinical training and experience equivalent to that required to gain UK CCT in Anaesthesia
• Ability to provide consultant cover to Emergency anaesthesia and Obstetric anaesthesia including on call
• Knowledge of the latest RCoA Training Curriculum and thereby ability for training and teaching anaesthetic trainees to the standard required by the RCoA. Enthusiasm to teach medical students and health care professionals
• Interest in pre‑assessment/peri‑operative anaesthesia
• Relevant experience of NHS Anaesthesia practice
• Interest in Obstetric Anaesthesia
• Experience as Consultant in the UK
• Interest in u/s guided vascular access and nerve blocks

Academic Achievements

• An understanding of the principles of research
• Knowledge of using evidence base medicine to support decision making
• Participation in a Quality improvement project

Key Skills

• Capable of organising and prioritising work effectively
• Motivation and ability to plan and develop the service
• Energy and enthusiasm and an ability to work under pressure
• Willingness to participate in clinical governance
• Conscientious and highly motivated with the ability to communicate clearly with colleagues and staff
• Able to form part of a team and recognise the importance of team working

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust